Railroad-track-mowing machine.



W. ROACH. RAILROAD TRACK MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man JAN.12.1915.

Patented May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses gym,

Attorneys W. ROACH.

RAILROAD TRACK MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.I2.1915.

Patented May 30,1916

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2-.

Inventor,

Witnesses Attorneys.a

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 10., WASHINGTON, D. c.

WILLIAM ROACH, OF HOWARD, SOUTH DAKOTA.

RAILROAD-TRACK-MOWING MACHINE.

Application filed January 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VViLLIAM RoAoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Howard, in the county of Miner and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Track-Mowing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is mowing mechanism adapted to be assembled with a hand car, the construction being such that a swath may be out upon each side of the hand car as the latter progresses along the track. Two duplicate cutting mechanisms are provided, the same being disposed upon opposite sides of the hand car. These cutting mechanisms may be raised individually and may be swung individually, in a forward and rearward direction, horizontally. A prime mover is mounted upon the hand car and is operatively connected with certain of the wheels thereof for the purpose of driving the car. This prime mover, further, is operatively connected with both of the cutting mechanisms, to actuate the same. At the will of the operator, the cutting mechanisms may be detached from the prime mover so that the latter may drive the car independently of the cutting mechanisms.

The present invention aims to improve a track mowing mechanism along the lines above indicated, and to provide novel struc tural features which will be set forth more clearly hereinafter.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :F,igure 1 shows the invention in top plan; Fig. 2 is a front elevation, the cutter bar at one side of the car being raised up and the other cutter bar being lowered; and Fig. ,3 is a perspective depicting the cutter supporting arm and attendant parts.

In the drawings, there is shown a car embodying a platform 1 and axles 2 carrying wheels 3 adapted to traverse tracks 4. Mounted upon the platform 1 of the car is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 38, 1916.

Serial No. 1,830.

an engine 5 the crank shaft of which is denoted by the numeral 6, the crank shaft 6 carrying a pulley 7 belt 8, the belt being engaged with a pulley 9 carried by the shaft 10 supported as shown at 11 upon the'framework of the car. Attached to one end of the shaft 10 is a beveled gear wheel 12 meshing with a beveled pinion 14 on one of the axles 2. The foregoing arrangement of parts provides a mechanism whereby the car may be propelled along the track 4.. through the instrumentality of the engine 5.

Interposed in the engine shaft 6 is a clutch 15 of any desired sort whereby, at the will of an operator, a pair of duplicate cutting mechanisms may be coupled up with the shaft 6 and be disconnected therefrom, to the end that the car may be moved along the track without actuating the cutting means. Carried by the forward end of the crank shaft 6 is a crank disk 16 to which oppositely extending pitmen 17 are eccentrically connected. As shown to best advantage in Fig. 3, each pitman 17 may be a longitudinally adjustable structure, comprising telescoped parts 17 and 17 united by a cotter pin or the like, shown at 17. The pitmen 17, respectively, form parts of duplicate cutting mechanisms located upon about which is trained a opposite sides of the car, and since these cutting mechanisms are alike, but one of them need be described in detail.

Pivotally supported as shown at 18 upon the framework of the car, to swing both vertically and horizontally is an arm 19. Secured to the arm 19, as shown best in Fig. 3 is a bracket 20. A retractile spring 21 is provided, the forward end of the spring 21 being connected to one of a pair of guards 29 mounted on a support 28 pivoted as shown at 27 to a head 22 which is attached to the outer end of the arm 19, the construction being such that the support 28 is mounted to swing in a vertical direction. The rear end of the retractile spring 21 is attached, as shown in Fig. 1, to the framework of the car. Loosely united with the head 22 is a connection in the form of a rod 23, the same being pivoted to a lever 24: fulcrumed upon the car and carrying a latch mechanism 25 adapted to cooperate with a segment 26 upon the car. The head 28 carries a finger bar 30,

upon which a cutter bar 31 is mounted to reciprocate. 7

It will now be understood that by Inanipulating the lever 24, the finger bar 30,

- together with the support 28, the head 22 and the rod or arm 19, may be swung in a horizontal direction, the parts pivoting at the point 18. The spring 21 serves to hold .thefinger bar 30and attendant parts against swinging movement in a horizontal direction, saving-when actuated by the lever 24 and attendant mechanisms.

A means is provided for reciprocating the cutter bar 31 upon the finger bar 30,

and with this end in view, a link 32 is pivoted to the inner end of the cutter bar, the

' link '32 being pivoted to a link 33 which in its turn, is pivoted to a lever 34, fulcrumed as shown at 3'4 uponthe bracket 20. The lever 34 is a composite structure and comprises,

, 36"with respect to each other.

as shown in Fig. 3, telescoped parts 35 and 36, held in adjusted relation'with respect to each other by means of a cotter pin 37 orthe like. The upper end of the lever 34 is pivoted as shown at 38 to the outer end of the pitman 17.

The eifective length of the lever 34 may be altered by telescoping the parts 35 and Thus the power arm'of the lever maybe lengthened or shortened at will, the telescoping feature nism and to render the raising thereofcom- "paratively easy.

A: chain 41 is attached to one of the guards 29 and is connected with a crank arm 42 formed upon one end of a shaft 43 journaled in bearings44 on the frame of the-car. Connected with the shaft 43- is a lever 45 having latch mechanism 46 adapted tocoact with a segment 47 on the car.

' It willinow be understood that by manipulating the lever 45, the finger bar 30.

and the cutter bar 31 may be swung upwardly, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 2, with the point 27 as a pivot. This 7 operation takes place, ordinarily, when it is desired to use the cutting mechanism no longer. It is possible, further, to raise the arm 19 and the cutter bar 31 when the parts are'in' the operative, cutting positions shown atthe right hand side of Fig. 2. To accomplish this result, a chain 48 is attached to the bracket 20, the upper end of the chain Gopiesot this patent may be obtained for 48 being attached to a crank arm 49 formed on a shaft 50 journaled in suitable bearings 50 on the car, the shaft 50 carrying a lever 51 provided with latch mechanism 52 adapt- ,ed to coeperate with a car supported segment 53.

The operation of the device has been dealt with hereinbefore, step by step, but briefly considered is as follows:The car is propelled by a driving mechanism comprising the engine'5, the belt 8, the shaft 10, the beveled pinions 12 and 14 and one of the axles 2. Each cutting mechanism is actuated from the engine 5 through a gear train comprising the pitman 17, lever 34, links 33 and 32, and the cutter bar 31. By manipulating the clutch 15, the cutting mechanism may be thrown out of gear and the car may be propelled without actuating the cutting mechanism. Each of the, cutting mechanisms may be swung in a vertical plane by manipulating the lever 24 which in its turn, swings the cutter bar 31 and the arm 19. The arm 19 and the cutter bar 31 may be raised together through the medium of the chain 48, the shaft 43 and the lever 45. The cutter bar 31 may be raised and lowered independently of the arm 19 through the medium of the chain 41, shaft 50 and lever 51.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a vehicle; an arm connected with the vehicle to swing both horizontally with respect to the vehicle and vertically; a cutter bar connected with the arm to swing vertically; means for swinging the arm vertically;

-meaI1s for'swinging the arm horizontally;

and means for swinging the cutter bar vertically upon the arm independently of the arm.

2. In a device of the class described, a vehicle; an arm pivoted to the vehicle and mounted to swing horizontally; means connected with the arm for swinging the arm horizontally in one direction with respect to the vehicle; spring means for resisting the horizontal swinging movement of the arm in said direction with respect to the vehicle; and a cutter bar carried by the outer end of the arm.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ROACH.

Witnesses:

V. E. WHEELER, AUG GRAERE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

